COOPERATIVE CONTRACTS USED BY THE STATE OF DELAWARE

A purchasing cooperative is a type of arrangement where entities aggregate their demand to obtain lower prices from suppliers. The Cooperative purchasing process offers State of Delaware agencies, counties, municipalities, school districts, public libraries, and other political subdivisions, the benefits and costs savings of buying goods and services through contracts administered by other governmental entities, purchasing cooperatives and consortiums.

Delaware Code Title 29 §6933 & §6987 authorizes Government Support Services to participate in, sponsor, conduct or administer a cooperative agreement for the procurement of professional services with 1 or more public procurement units either within the State, with or within another state, or with a consortium of other states in accordance with an agreement entered into between the participants. Such agreement may include materiel and/or nonprofessional services with professional services.

The Director of Government Support Services and the State Contract Procurement Administrator may choose to participate in any cooperative procurement that meets the requirements of Delaware Code Title 29 §6933 & §6987, so that local units of government may have access to a cooperative contract, but might restrict or limit the participation of any state agency.

The State of Delaware has entered into participating agreements with various states and cooperatives to fulfill the State's needs.